The Actor Otani Oniji III
1762–1819
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
11 7/8 x 5 1/4 in. (30.2 x 13.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Henry L. Phillips Collection, Bequest of Henry L. Phillips, 1939
Accession Number
JP2895
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan *The Actor Otani Oniji*, a striking woodblock print by Katsukawa Shun'ei (1762–1819). This intimate portrait, measuring just 11⅞ × 5¼ inches, captures the renowned kabuki actor in a moment of dramatic intensity. Shun'ei, a of the Katsukawa school, specialized in yakusha-e—actor prints that brought the stars of the theater to everyday admirers, turning performers into cultural icons. Created during the Edo period (1615–1868), when kabuki theater flourished in urban centers like Edo (modern Tokyo), this work exemplifies ukiyo-e, the "pictures of t...
About the Artist
Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英 (Japanese) · 1762 –1819
Japanese, 1762–1819